Ruling out speculation that chief minister Budhdhadeb Bhattacharjee would personally join the proposed tripartite meeting, his closest colleague Siliguri MLA and state urban development minister claimed that there is no such possibility.

WEST BENGAL (WB) state urban development minister Ashok Bhattacharjee on Wednesday (July 6) ruled out speculation that chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee would himself take part in the proposed tripartite talks, including Union government and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) to settle the impasse in the hills of Darjeeling. Moreover, he claimed that the state government would also not allow any attempt by the GJM to include the demand for separate statehood as one of the agenda for the proposed meeting.

Bhattacharjee, who is also CommunistPartyofIndia (Marxist) (CPI-(M) MLA from Siliguri said this at Kantaganj community hall in Gayeshpur in Nadia following handing residential accommodation to the poors under special scheme.

Speaking on the proposed meeting, he said: “As per customary, chief secretary and home secretary would most probably lead the team of the state government to begin the process of dialogue with the GJM.” Statement of Bhattacharjee bears significance as he reiterated that the talks would be ‘unconditional’ as per the decision of the all party meeting held earlier. He said: “The state government expects the GJM leadership would attend the meeting leaving all their prejudices.”

Speaking on the proposed meeting he said, “The agenda of the meeting is yet to be finalised, but surely it would not include the demand for the statehood of Gorkhaland.” Because, we will not allow any attempt to split the state of West Bengal, he claimed. (Merinews)